Maximum versatility in lower lofts

Given how large and forgiving drivers have become, teeing one up is far less intimidating than it was in the days of tiny-headed, minute-sweetspotted persimmon clubs.

However, although technology has made the 225+-yard shot off the turf much easier than it was in the past, it can still make many golfers feel uncomfortable.

Callaway recently updated its Apex long-iron/hybrid/utility options, giving golfers some alternatives for making tee-less long shots a lot more palatable (though you can hit them off the tee, of course). The trio of new Callaway clubs are designed for those who prefer long irons over hybrids and fairway-woods, golfers who’d rather hit a hybrid than a long-iron or fairway-wood, people who like a fairway-wood more than they do a hybrid or long-iron, and everyone in between…acknowledging that the “in-between” spaces are very, very small.

For those who feel happier looking down on a long-iron-shaped club (i.e., those who probably don’t feel that nervous about hitting a long shot from the fairway, or a piercing long-iron from the tee on a hole where accuracy and precision are paramount), one or more of the new Apex UTirons could well find a place in the bag soon enough. Built using a six-stage construction method Callaway calls ‘Flexcore’, the UT has a hollow body filled with urethane microspheres to dampen vibration at impact and a forged, 455 steel, AI-designed face cup.

While the topline isn’t thin, it’s thinner than in previous iterations (the UT goes back to 2014), and the head is comparatively compact. Tungsten positioned in the base of the clubhead raises the launch angle slightly, and the Dynamic Sole facilitates easier movement through the turf than before.

The Apex Ti Super Hybrid is for the player at the opposite end of the spectrum, a game-improvement club designed for those who prefer the hybrid shape and which launches the ball relatively high. A titanium face is brazed to a steel body, which, Callaway says, allows the face to flex and give your ballspeed a boost. Material is removed from the rear of the sole to create a Step Sole that minimizes turf drag – getting the clubhead through the turf quicker and more consistently.

Then, for those who like the shape of a fairway wood but aren’t necessarily comfortable hitting a full-sized model, the 2025 Apex UW will fit the bill. The club, first launched in 2021, is strangely under-appreciated, perhaps, but generally loved by those who have discovered it.

As you’ll know, the mini-driver has gained popularity in recent years and this club can be thought of as a mini-fairway-wood. A triaxial carbon crown allows for a 41 gram piece of tungsten, known as ‘Speed Wave’, to be suspended forward, though slightly above the sole, which allows the face to flex, boosting ballspeed especially when impact is made low on the clubface. Like its predecessors, the 2025 UW features the Step Sol,e which improves turf interaction. The Apex UW should appeal to a wide range of players, giving you more versatility than a traditional fairway wood but more distance than a hybrid.

This line-up of clubs should facilitate hitting better shots from distances you’ve never felt particularly confident at. They can all be merged into existing sets, meaning your toughest task may now be identifying which combination gives you the best results.

Apex UT
$300 per club
Lofts – 18˚, 20˚, 22˚, 24˚
18˚ and 20˚ available in right and left-hand. Higher lofts in right-hand only.
Shafts – True Temper DG Mid (Steel); Mitsubishi MMT (graphite)
Available to pre-order on October 24th, in stores November 7th.

Apex Ti Super Hybrid
$400
Lofts – 16˚, 18˚, 21˚, 24˚ (2H, 3H, 4H, 5H)
3H and 4H available in right and left-hand; 2H and 5H in right-hand only.
Shafts – Mitsubishi MMT (graphite)
Available to pre-order now; in stores this Friday (9/19)

Apex UW
$350
Lofts – 17˚, 19˚, 21˚, 23˚
19˚ and 21˚ available in right and left-hand; 17˚ and 23˚ in right-hand only.
Shafts – Mitsubishi Tensei AV2 Blue (graphite)
Available to pre-order now; in stores this Friday (9/19)